‘I am not surprised to hear you say that,’ I returned quickly:  ’you are just the sort of man, Max, to be hoodwinked by any designing person.  I am less charitable than you, and women are sharper in these matters.  I have already found out that Miss Darrell makes Miss Hamilton miserable.’

‘Gently, gently, Ursula,’ in quite a shocked voice; ’there is no need to put things quite so strongly:  you are rather hasty, my dear.  Miss Darrell may be a little too managing, and perhaps jealous and exacting; but I think she is very fond of her cousins.’

‘Indeed!’ rather drily, for I did not agree with Max in the least; he was always ready to believe the best of every one.

’Hamilton, too, is really devoted to his sisters, but they do not understand him.  I believe Miss Hamilton is very proud of her brother, but she does not confide in him.  He has often told me, in quite a pained way, how reserved they are with him.  I believe Miss Darrell is far more his confidante than his sisters.’

‘No doubt,’ I returned, quite convinced in my own mind that this was the case.

‘So you must see yourself how much Miss Hamilton needs a friend,’ he went on hurriedly.  ’I want you to be very good to her, Ursula; perhaps you may think it a little strange if I say that I think it will be as much your duty to befriend Miss Hamilton as to minister to Phoebe Locke.’

‘I wonder who is speaking strongly now, Max.’

‘But if it be the truth,’ he pleaded, a little anxiously.

‘You need not fear,’ was my answer:  ’if Miss Hamilton requires my friendship, I am very willing to bestow it.  I will be as good to her as I know how to be, Max.  Is it likely I should refuse the first favour you have ever asked me?’ And, as he thanked me rather gravely, I felt that he was very much in earnest about this.  He went away after this, but I think I had succeeded in cheering him, for he looked more like himself as he bade me good-night; but after he had gone I sat for a long time, reflecting over our talk.

I felt perplexed and a little saddened by what had passed.  Max had not denied that he was unhappy, but he had refused to confide in me.  Was his unhappiness connected in any way with Miss Hamilton?  This question baffled me; it was impossible for me to answer it.

I could not understand his manner to her.  He was perfectly kind and gentle to her, as he was to all women, but he was also reserved and distant; in spite of their long acquaintance, for he had visited at Gladwyn for years, there was no familiarity between them.  Miss Hamilton, on her part, seemed to avoid him, and yet I was sure she both respected and liked him.  There was some strange barrier between them that hindered all free communication.  Max was certainly not like himself when Miss Hamilton was present; and on her side she seemed to freeze and become unapproachable the moment he appeared.  But this was not the only thing that perplexed me.  The whole atmosphere of Gladwyn was oppressive.  I had a subtile feeling of discomfort whenever Miss Darrell was in the room; her voice seemed to have a curious magnetic effect on one; its tuneless vibrations seemed to irritate me; if she spoke loudly, her voice was rather shrill and unpleasant.  She knew this, and carefully modulated it.  I used to wonder over its smoothness and fluency.